Syria: Jordan to spearhead Saudi Arabian arms drive

[bemildred]

Jordan has agreed to spearhead a Saudi-led push to arm rebel groups through its borders into southern Syria, in a move that coincides with the transfer from Riyadh to Amman of more than $1bn (£650m).

It marks a significant change for Jordan, from a policy of trying to contain the spillover threat posed by the civil war across its border to one of actively aiming to end it before it engulfs the cash-strapped kingdom.

Jordan's role as a conduit for arms has emerged in the past two months as Saudi Arabia, some Gulf states, Britain and the US have sharply increased their backing of some rebels to try to stop the advances of al-Qaida-linked groups among them.

A push to defeat al-Qaida, rather than an outright bid to oust Syria's leader, Bashar al-Assad, is Jordan's driving force. Officials in Amman concede it heightens a risk of retaliation from its increasingly cornered neighbour.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/14/syria-jordan-spearhead-saudi-arms-drive

[leveymg]

1. So, Saudi Arabia, which supports al-Nusra, is now paying Jordan to host militias to fight al-Qaida?

Sounds like a prescription for another Black September-type uprising, a huge massacre, and the creation of a 20-year plague of vengence and international terrorism. Business, as usual.

[bemildred]

2. Jordan has joined the war. No, it won't be pretty. nt

[leveymg]

3. Indeed